BART PD reports strong monthly arrest totals amid redeployment plan that boosts safety presence in trains
Based on preliminary data, the BART Police Department in March and April saw two of its highest monthly arrest totals since the arrival of the pandemic. In March BPD reported 258 arrests systemwide and in April the monthly total increased to 266. On March 20th, BPD implemented a new deployment strategy that doubled the number of sworn officers riding on trains in the core of the system.
“These numbers are proof of the hard work being done by the people of the BART Police Department,” said interim BPD Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our redeployment strategy is a direct response to the safety concerns of our riders.”
“Our riders have told us loud and clear they want to see more BPD presence on trains and in stations. That means more officers as well as unarmed Crisis Intervention Specialists and Transit Ambassadors. Even non-BPD staff like Elevator Attendants are helping to make BART feel safer by being highly visible in the system,” said BART Board President Janice Li. “I applaud BPD for being responsive to riders and hope that maximizing the visible safety presence, especially in the core of our system will encourage more people to come back to BART.”
Recent notable arrests include:
*April 24th: BPD officers arrested 43-year-old Charles Harrison on the El Cerrito del Norte Station platform for punching a female victim at a fare machine. Harrison was stopped by BPD after he tried to flee with $5 the victim was using to pay her fare. Once the victim identified Harrison a record check revealed he was on parole for assault and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
*April 12th: 25-year-old David Wheeler was arrested at Hayward Station in connection with an assault that happened in the station’s bus zone. The victim identified Wheeler and accused him of stomping on her head several times. A record check revealed Wheeler had an outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrant.
*March 4th: 29-year-old Shawn Slaughter of Oakland was arrested at West Dublin Station in connection with an assault that happened on a train. The victim suffered visible facial injuries. Slaughter was detained in the parking structure of the station after he resisted officers.
Non-sworn personnel are also boosting BPD’s visible safety presence in the system. The redeployment strategy includes unarmed Transit Ambassadors, Crisis Intervention Specialists (CIS), Community Service Officers, and Fare Inspectors. As an example, in the first four weeks of the new deployment plan CISs responded to 277 calls for service, freeing up sworn officers to respond to other incidents. CISs also completed an additional 1,998 self-initiated contacts with individuals in need of services.
BPD’s redeployment plan removed seven traditional vehicle patrols per shift and moved those officers to train patrols. Officers who were on special assignment such as K9 units also joined train patrols. Those moves have resulted in an additional 8 to 18 officers patrolling trains per shift.
BPD is working hard to recruit more officers to further increase its visible safety presence. The department is offering a $15,000 hiring bonus to academy recruits as well as lateral hires. The department has 31 officer vacancies, all of which are fully funded by the BART Board.
BART PD interim Chief Kevin Franklin and BART Board President Janice Li spoke with reporters at Embarcadero Station about the latest arrest numbers and overall safety on the BART system.
